Arun

Arun's population grew between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population reached nearly 150,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Arun increased by 6.2%, from just under 141,000 to 150,000.

The addition of just under 8,800 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Arun was home to, on average, 4.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Arun

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Arun increased by two years, from 45 to 47 years.

This coastal area had the second-highest average age in the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 5,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 3,000.

About 14% of people in Arun are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Arun by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Arun

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Arun at a faster rate than across the South East.

In Arun, the proportion of single people increased from 23% in 2001 to 27% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29% to 32%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in Arun fell from 54% to 50%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11% to 13%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Arun

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 25% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 25% in 2001

The number of people in Arun that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 21,000 in 2001 to about 38,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 25% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Arun that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 110,000 in 2001 to just under 98,000 in 2011 (from 77% to 65%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 11,000 to about 12,000 (from 7.6% to 7.7%).

Just under 810 people (0.4%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 530 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population without a religion in Arun increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Arun by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Arun

The percentage of Arun residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.1% to 3.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.4%, while the percentage of Arun residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Arun

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 97% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 97% in 2001

The number of people in Arun from the White ethnic groups increased from about 140,000 in 2001 to about 150,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Arun from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 840 in 2001 to about 2,100 in 2011 (from 0.6% to 1.4%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 780 to about 1,500 (from 0.6% to 1.0%).

About 540 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 310 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Arun decreased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Arun by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

In Arun, the proportion of private renting increased from 9.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 10% to 16%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Arun remained close to 8.8%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 79% to 74%.

Private renting in Arun increased by 5.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Arun, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Arun residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.3% to 5.7% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (79%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66% in 2001. The percentage of Arun residents that described their health as fair decreased from 25% to 16%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Arun decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Arun, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Arun working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 10% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Arun decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Arun, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Arun residents that were unemployed increased from 2.2% to 3.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 50%, while the percentage of Arun residents that were self-employed increased from 10% to 11%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Arun increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Arun, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Arun, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.2% to 8.2% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31%) households had a married couple, compared with 33% in 2001. The percentage of households in Arun, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.1% to 8.6%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Arun with only adult children living with their parents increased from 7.3% to 8.2% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 23%, while the percentage of households in Arun without children remained close to 69%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.8% in 2001 to 9.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Arun residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.2% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Arun remained close to 1.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Arun by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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